Explore different kinds of travel

This is a great way to be introduced to a new country. You'll have a tour guide who's familiar with American-specific names for objects/places (yes, everyone in Ireland and the U.K. speaks English, but the accents aren't always easy to understand and they definitely have their own terminology/slang for different objects/places/ideas, etc.). 

Your luggage is handled for you, frequent bathroom stops are made (usually no more than 2 hours between stops) and the entire itinerary is planned for you. All you have to do is show up and get on the bus at whatever time the tour guide tells you. 

These bus tours are, most often, the easiest in terms of activity level and don't require tons of walking.

Easy peasy and you don't have to drive yourself!

If you're not wild about spending time with 52 of your closest friends on a big tour bus, you can sign up for a small group tour. Most of these tours are capped at anywhere from 15-35 people (depending on the tour company).  

If you're looking for a more intimate, but guided tour, then a small-group tour is for you. If you're wanting to book a bespoke (customized) tour for a group of family/friends, then a small-group tour would also apply in that instance, just know that most companies require 15 people to sign up before they agree to guide a custom tour for you. 

Also be aware that small group tours can, and often do, cost more than regular bus tours. It really depends upon the tour company.

Think you'll be comfortable driving on the left side of the road, but the right side of the car? Why not a self-drive tour?

Most automobiles in Europe are standards (stick-shift), but you can usually upgrade to an automatic.

Driving yourself gives you lots of freedom. You can decide what time you want to leave the hotel/B&B each morning, and how long you want to stay at each attraction/restaurant/shopping center, etc. It's also easier to navigate country roads and you can get off the beaten-path.

I can help you come up with an itinerary, and I'll make sure to give you plenty of time to get to your next destination.

Be aware that winding roads make for a longer car trip and can also exacerbate motion sickness.

Don't want to sit on a bus all day or drive yourself around, but still want to see the country? Try a cruise!

You'll typically fly in the day before the cruise starts, because the boat waits for no one and you'll need to board the ship at a certain time.

Once you're on board, you don't have to unpack and repack multiple times. You'll have the freedom to move around on board while still getting a good view of the shoreline and countryside from the deck.

Seafaring cruises still make daily stops throughout most of the trip to allow passengers to disembark and join a guided tour in that particular part of the country.

The train is a fabulous way to see the countryside with unobstructed views if you don't want to drive yourself or take a bus.

The rail system in Ireland and the UK is quite developed and will take you just about anywhere you want to go.

You can either use the train to travel around the country and stay in each destination for a few days, or you can take the train to one destination, stay there for the duration of your trip, then take the train back to the point of origin for your departure.

Train based adventures typically work better for small group and solo travel.

Walking or hiking tours can be done in many different ways.

Some bus tours include walking/hiking in their pre-planned itineraries and are marked as higher-activity, and some cruise companies may offer a hiking excursion while the ship is docked at port for the day.

It is more common for a small group tour or solo travel to have lots of walking/hiking opportunities.